It's fun watching the true greats master their craft

Here’s one for you:

How good is Roger Federer?

I was lounging around a bit Sunday morning with the Wimbledon final on as white noise in the background and all of a sudden I was drawn into it totally, amazed by the mastery of Federer and what he does in his sport.

There is no real sense in comparing athletes of different eras or different sports – it’s good bar stool talk and a solid discussion-generator but it’s somewhat pointless – but I will say this.

I think you could make the case that we have seen in Federer the absolute greatest. He is beating time and all comers, he is a master at his craft without much pomp, he is beauty rather than brawn and that’s always more alluring to me.

He is 30, practically geriatric in the world of professional tennis, yet he awakens today as the No. 1 player in the world, with his seventh Wimbledon title, his 17th Grand Slam and his first tennis major since 2010 to put on his mantle.

I don’t know much about the game, actually, I tend to catch the final weeks of Wimbledon, the French Open and U.S. Open, so my knowledge of the intricacies of Federer’s game is quite limited.

But I do know greatness when I see it, do know when I am watching someone do something at the absolute top of his game and what he’s accomplished is nothing short of amazing.

As I mentioned, it’s folly to compare sports and athletes and eras.

But there’s this:

In the individual sports, and I guess you could even put team sports in there as well, we might have lived through a career that will be unmatched in the annals of time.

Yes, others have come at him – Nadal and Djokovic chief among them – and there was Sampras and Laver and all the rest of them but there is just something about Federer that makes him stand out.

It’s his longevity, as silly as that sounds about a guy who’s 30; it’s his calm and his class and the way he surgically wins matches with guile and drop shots and little slices rather than brute strength.

Is he the greatest individual sport athlete of all time?

If he isn’t, he’s in the discussion.

-

No, they don’t make ‘em like McHale’s Navy anymore, do they?

I’ve to put that sitcom near the top of the list of the oldies, not sure it got the recognition it deserves; where do you put it?

And by “you” I mean Irregulars Of A Certain Vintage who can remember it.

RIP Ernest.

-

Yes, Aaron Gray is coming back (Marc Stein got it from his agent Saturday night) and it’s a two-year deal although the second’s at his option.

Not big money – the first year is comparable to the $2.5 million he made last season – and he is well thought of by the coaching staff.

He sets good screens, realizes his limitations offensively and just goes about his business; solid pro to have around.

Now, thing I wonder about – and have since this possibility existed – is that it’s awfully crowded up front.

You’ve got five bigs who could legitimately expect to play in Valanciunas, Bargnani, Gray, Davis and Amir Johnson and that’s a lot especially when you have a bit of an option of moving Kleiza to a stretch four in some matchups.

I figure this move isn’t necessarily a precursor to another but it’s going to be a delicate balancing act if they begin the season with all of them in the fold.

You would think this might diminish the chance of Jamaal Magloire returning as well but that possibility will improve if Bryan moves out one of his excess bigs – and I maintain that’s been Johnson and Davis since the end of last season.

-

Only in Canada could you be sitting on a stool at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 7 and divert your eyes from Red Sox-Yankees and see someone named Stajan score for the Leaves on some goaler named Raycroft from the Coloradoes.

Surely to goodness there was something more pertinent on somewhere? Oh, wait, it’s the pucks and Canada. Wrong.

-

Hey, did you hear?

Dwight Howard might be getting traded.

Yawn.

-

Not a bad showing at all by the Canadian men’s under-17 team at the world championships that just finished up in Lithuania.

They went 5-3 overall, finished fifth after beating Argentina in their final game and got some valuable experience that should help them greatly as they proceed through the junior ranks to perhaps the senior men’s team.

Thanks to FIBA here’s a little video snippet.

This puts the lid on the significant international season for Canada – there is the Olympics left for the women, of course – and it was a solid summer.

The junior men and women both qualified for next year’s world championships, the senior women got Canada back to the Olympic and the senior men … well, there wasn’t a senior men’s team and that’s cool, no need to do anything with nothing to play for. It’s next year that they have to hit the ground running with the qualification process for 2014 world championships.

-

Hey, Bryan?

I’ve got about a billion Olympic things to do this week and I know you and the gang are headed to Vegas for a little training camp and then Summer League so if you’re going to do anything roster-wise, can you do it early in the week?

Much appreciated.

-

So, the best basketball story of the weekend?

It’s easily Nigeria beating Dominican Republic on Sunday night to get the final berth in the London Olympics.

And the fact they did it against a team coached by mercenary John Calipari makes it even sweeter in some corners.

But the magnitude of Nigeria’s efforts at the final qualifier cannot be under-stated.

The beat Lithuania in the first round, Greece in a win-or-go home game and then the Dominican with everything on the line.

It’s a huge statement – they have at times dominated the African competition, but this is the first time they’ve taken on traditional globally good teams and come out on top.

I was e-mailing briefly with Masai Ujiri after the win over Greece to offer my congratulations and he was full of pride at that point. Having been instrumental is developing the sport in his country, Masai’s been directly involved in getting these kids to American schools and giving them the opportunity to be the best they can.

It’s a great thing that’s happened – Russia and Lithuania got the other two London berths, by the way – and I can’t wait to see the first game Nigeria plays at the Olympics.

-

 

 

Comments

[Dave]

Hi Doug,
Great read as usual. I have to agree that Nigeria's win over the DR is a great accomplishment. Regarding Canadian hoops, though, the girls U17 Cadette team still have their WCs later this summer so hoping another great showing is in their future to go along with the other teams's great results so far this year.

By the way, have a great time in London! Wish I was going as well but I'll settle gladly for my trip to Toronto to see The Boss in August.

Blogger's note: Yes, Cadette women could make some noise; it's a solid young team

[Lawrence]

If you're into Federer and/or sports journalism, then check out this bit David Foster Wallace did your the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all

[Michael]

Couldn't agree more about Roger Federer. No one expected him to regain the #1 ranking, but he did. And to do it by winning Wimbledon for a 7th time is simply amazing. It's always great to watch him play tennis!

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
Hard to argue with Federer being one of the all time greats. Great results from Canada basketball this summer.Only bodes well for the future. Interesting signing of Gray. I thought it might happen, but closer to training camp. Was there much interest in Gray, or might this be a precursor to a more significant trade to come involving one of the bigs?

Blogger's note: Not getting any indication this sets anything else up; and hadn't heard a sniff of interest in Gray

[jwss]

You're right, Nigeria qualifying for the Olympics is a great story. It's somewhat tarnished though when one considers that nine of the twelve players on their roster were born in the United States.

[Shaun]

Doug,

Apologies if you've already answered this, but will you have the chance to chat with Valanciunas at some point during the Olympics, or will your schedule make that difficult based on all of the sports you will be covering?

Blogger's note: I know I'll see him play, how much time I get with him is impossible to guess

[Heath]

Any plans on using the press pass and catching Fed in London?

Blogger's note: I'd like to cover some tennis, yes

[511]

@ Lawrence: Thanks for that. I’m a long-time Federer fan and my goodness, I enjoyed that 2006 article!

[Mike kovacs]

With all of Cleveland's whining about players choosing where to play, would it not be rather hypocritical for them to faciliate Howard going tp Brooklyn?

[Arlene Erven]

Glad Aaron Gray is returning. A hard-working player who gets rebounds unlike his 7ft. teammate, Bargs....who is improving.
Interesting to see what happens with A. Johnson, J. Johnson, and Davis via trades. Maybe a package deal to bring a good sf in return. Kleiza also a trade possibility?
One of my concerns is that every year the team gets a shake-up with many new players who have to learn to play together and develop chemistry. Think patience might be in order to allow players to grow together, even if it takes a bit longer. Personally, I thought last years team, with the addition of a couple of extra good pieces, could be a contender. Perhaps the addition of Lowry and Valancunas are those needed pieces. What do you think?

[Rudiger]

Gotta love the inferiority complex to hockey. We get it, you don't like it.

Blogger's note: Actually, given the relative merits over the last decade of the teams in the city where I work, I'd suggest superiority complex

[Geoff Read]

Like you, I'm a casual tennis fan. Like you I always find that there's something intangible about Roger Federer that makes him stand out. Nadal and Djokovic are great players... but Federer's tennis is so beautiful, so seemingly effortless.... Watching him win yesterday was awesome, although I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Andy Murray who was likewise amazing in the first, second, and sets. I don't think he could possibly have played better, and yet Federer beat him. I don't think there's really much doubt anymore that Federer deserves that "greatest of all time" moniker.

I like Gray. Not in the greatest of all time discussion, but there's something about the way he goes about his business I admire as well. Glad he's back.

[Moshigh]

Great Story about Nigeria, hopefully Canada's youngsters could one day lead Mens basketball back to international relivance.

I like Grey but BC better be making a move with one or some of the Bigs on this team...Too many, this is still a guard league. I cant wait for season to start.

TFC is terrible
Argo's who knows
Blue Jays good but injuries have limited this year (unless a miracle)
Leafs another year of talk and no top players

Raptors only team I take real interest in, even if they arent that good. Im sure D Casey will make sure they over achieve.

They better trade D Howard and get it over with. D Howard should be getting body slammed 10x worst then Lebron did. Between the Magic and Howard this situation has been handled terribly.

[SuperDoug]

Doug, I'm surprised there was no mention of Ray Allen in your blog today!

[LeeZ]

On the topic of tennis, we'll get to Fed in a moment, but how about Canada in the juniors!!! Eugénie Bouchard won the girl's singles AND doubles, and Philip Pilewo (sp.?) won the boy's singles. In fact, Canada barely missed having an all-Canadian girls final, but Abanda lost in three tough sets in the semis. This is like Jamaica winning the bobsled and ski jumping gold at the Olympics. TSN, to their credit, live streamed the boy's final, and Pilewo looks like Leyton Hewitt 2.0.
As for Federer, for a professed non-tennis fan, you are right on the mark. It's his grace and calm, and the fact that he has about a dozen shots at his disposal at any given time with which to beat you. Tennis is a game of singular focus and mental strength. As you get older, that singlemindedness is hard to keep up, plus Fed has two twin daughters now, so just being able to maintain that mental fortitude is amazing. But the one most amazing thing about Roger is...his face. Sometimes they show that super slow motion high resolution replay, and Fed will be lunging his body, fully extended and with lightning quick speed, to get to a ball. Every single person on the planet, including Nadal et al, would have facial contortions comensurate with the crazy effort that shot takes. Roger? His face is DEAD CALM. Not a muscle is twitching. He could be reading a book. And that, quite possibly, is the most amazing thing I have ever seen in sports.

[joeu]

Good morning Doug, like you I am a casual tennis Fan, and I have always been mesmerized by Federer's backhand. To me, it epitomizes his game: It looks exactly like very other shot he makes, same footwork,same back-swing, same compact motion and follow through; it doesn't look like he's got anything on it; and it ends up being un-returnable.

[David in Oakville]

Have to agree with Mike Kovacs, stories suggesting that Cleveland might actually be the facilitator of Dwight Howard taking his talents to Brooklyn seem curious given that it was only last year that Dan Gilbert opined about the league containing a few select teams and all others the equivalent of the Washington Generals.
+
Doug, with this off season's free agent signings and moves it might make a worthy blog topic. I thought the lockout and the new CBA were designed to discourage the stock piling of stars and the creation of super teams. What went wrong? Will the incoming luxury tax system put an end to this sort of thing?

[david]

The conclusion of the Federer-Murray match and the grace of both players in victory and defeat was one of the finest moments I have ever witnessed in professional sports.

[Shawn]

Hey Doug,

I agree with the comment about McHale's Navy. Being a 40 something father, I appreciate the golden oldies where humour depended on humour and not foul language.

I too am happy about Gray's resigning. Solid backup who knows his role. I'm still looking forward to the next move...Gay perhaps???

Keep up the great work!!

[Rob.V]

If the Nets pick up Howard for Brooke Lopez and filler (that doesn't include at minimum Marshon Brooks... I will lose my mind!
-
Please do not tell me this is the BEST the Net's could do.

[Rob.V]

Oops, meant Magic.

[Bo4]

1) Bryan, PLEASE. don't trade Ed Davis.
2) Don't forget Terrance Ross and his shooting/D.

[David in Oakville]

Really great diary / timeline of the Steve Nash to Lakers sign and trade by Marc Stein of ESPN just went live on the ESPN website.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8143205/nba-how-steve-nash-los-angeles-lakers-happened

Really interesting read and as expected, Nash says all the right things.
My take, damn its great to be an NBA all star... the story of your life narrated by Gretzky... are you kidding me!

[doug]

McHales Navy was one of those shows to me that I never really got into too although whenever I happened upon it I would stop and watch....it seemed to fall into the re-run cycle at the same time as Gilligans Island and Get Smart which I watched religiously...and being a kid on the go i only had so much time for tv, as back then we actually used playgrounds after school for sports....but yea a good show.....does anyone really care about Dwight Howard anymore??..like really he's like a snake oil salesman..and I think there has to be a move either via trade or amnestying one of the big kids as we have far too many...too me logical choice is Amir....be good sometime to list our fav sitcoms of the 60's,70's,80's and nineties...well 90's is a shoo in for Seinfeld ...we could do a bracketology for all-time sitcoms with the champ being voted on...ok cheers..

[Les]

I guess it depends on how old "oldies" are, but I'd have to say my favourite oldies are "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Burns and Allen". Never really got into "Mchales Navy". I got my military comedy fix from "The Phil Silvers Show/You'll Never Get Rich/Sgt. Bilko". That is until "Mash" came along.